KJ Clearance: How do you guys do it?

MrCRD · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:48 am

OK so I'm looking at making my CRD as trail friendly as my TJ. I've been reading about the different lifts and tire options. Then I get down under my KJ and take a look around. :shock:

My question is this; even with a lift to get some more trail ready tires, which would give me a little more clearance. It still looks like I would drag my belly on every rock out there. Heck between the 6.5 inches up front to the bloated exhaust I don't see how you guys run these things without hearing a constant screeching sound of your' armour hitting rocks. Don't get me wrong I think my KJ is great but if I spend the money to get it trail ready am I really going to be able to do the rocks. I don't mind dragging every once in a while but I don't want to be constantly high centered and winching off either.

I'm hoping that someone can clear me up on this.

Thanks
Chris

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:56 am

I think your forgetting about the fact that trail riding is supposed to be a challenge. If you survey your obstacle, its usually possible to place a wheel on the rock rather than drive over it.

What fun is trail riding if your rig just blazes right over everything? :twisted:

skrracing · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:59 am

Frankinlift, Boulder Bars, All J Products Super skid, a couple of lockers...and you are ready to go...Later...Clint

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2005 1:04 am

The way I see it is:
If I hear something hitting the underbelly of my Renny, at least I know I have skids to protect it; then those sounds are just part of the fun.... Hey - no lift here.... I might miss that noise when I do get lifted

You've got to learn how much capable your KJ is; also you have to learn how to hit some rocks - rocks in the center of your rig is not good at all - lifted or not. Rocks & your tires got to get friendly all the time.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2005 1:42 am

Yep, Clearence is nowhere near a TJ's...

But I will admit, wheeling my KJ has been more fun than my TJ was due to being more challenging. Once you build her, then learn her tricks (no JJ I am not talking about "those" kinda tricks) the kj is very capable.

As for being worried about being strapped or winched off of every obstacle, I have been wheeling mine since '01, and I have only had to be strapped out once... and that was my ego and a hole that was way too deep (Rubicon on 35's got stuck after me) not the KJ's lack of ability.

As for exhaust, I do not know how your exhaust hangs, just in the rockies group, I have seen 4 different designs for the exhaust crossover pipes!!!

jpzkj · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:22 am

We Dont Do Rocks.....

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

With my Franken Lift and 31" tires I have about 10.5" under the front where you have 6.5" So a lift and some new tires makes a huge difference. With the tires and the lift I probably gained about 4" extra of clearance. Makes quite a difference on the trails. Plus the low over hangs at the front and rear of the KJ are quite nice. I miss stuff that quite a few similarly modded XJ and TJ hit.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2005 10:17 am

...... However, get used to some scraping noises. Those sounds just mean you are getting your moneys worth out of your skids. The items that get hit the most are front and rear lower control arms, front skid, tranny skid, rear lower control arm mounts at body, and the rear diff. Make sure you have good boulder bars too as those will be used a lot to pivot and slide on some obstacles.
If you want to play in the big rocks, you just gotta deal with the noises.
BTW, KJ's like that kind of stuff. :twisted:

MrCRD · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:24 am

Thanks guys for the information. Those are exactly the type of trails I currently enjoy doing and wanted to be able to do in my KJ as well. I realize that picking the right line is very important. But I didn't realish the idea of becoming an earthmover with my skids.

Where were those shots taken at Jpzkj? Those look like some fun trails.

Thanks
Chris

Skyjump136 · **Joined:** Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:50 pm **Posts:** 1633

Keep in mind that lifting the KJ actually lifts your front diff too (unlike a TJ) due to the IFS. With a 31" tire you'll end up with 11" of clearance under your front skid....that ain't too shabby and gets me pretty much everywhere I want to go.

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:31 pm

Stock KJ's and TJ's (Rubicon and it's 31s aside) both come with 29" tires and have the same distance from the ground to the lowest thing underneath: the rear diff.

All the guys I wheel with here in San Antonio are driving YJs and TJs with 35s or larger and I go everywhere they go with my 30" tires. It's all a matter of knowing your vehicle and picking the right line.

jpzkj · **Posted:** Sun Dec 18, 2005 11:22 pm

MrCRD wrote:

Thanks guys for the information. Those are exactly the type of trails I currently enjoy doing and wanted to be able to do in my KJ as well. I realize that picking the right line is very important. But I didn't realish the idea of becoming an earthmover with my skids.

Where were those shots taken at Jpzkj? Those look like some fun trails.

Thanks
Chris

Those pictures were taken at out annual TURKEY CRAWL just outside of Calico Ghost Town in Southern CA.

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=3708

" But I didn't realish the idea of becoming an earthmover with my skids. "
We really don't do alot of earthmoving...but we do have to choose our lines and accept that we will be hitting our front lower control arms occasionally.

KJ Clearance: How do you guys do it?

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